John 12
Worldwide English (New Testament)
12 Six days before the Passover Feast Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus lived. This was the Lazarus that Jesus had raised from death.
2 The people made supper for Jesus. Martha helped give food for the people, and Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Jesus.
3 Mary had a jar of oil. It smelled very nice and cost much money. She put some of it on Jesus' feet. Then she wiped his feet with her hair. The smell of oil went all through the house.
4 Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, was there. He was one of the disciples, the one who was going to give Jesus over to the people who hated him.
5 He said, `This oil is worth a year's wages! Why did we not sell it and give the money to poor people?'
6 Judas did not say this because he cared for poor people. But he used to steal. He carried the disciples' money bag and he used to take money out of the bag for himself.
7 Then Jesus said, `Leave her alone. She has kept this oil for the time when they will bury me.
8 You will have poor people with you always. But you will not always have me with you.'
9 Many of the Jews knew that Jesus was at Bethany. So they came because Jesus was there. But they also came to see Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from death.
10 The chief priests planned to kill Lazarus also.
11 Many of the Jews left the priests and believed in Jesus, because of Lazarus.
12 The next day Jesus went to Jerusalem. Many people who were at the feast heard that he was coming.
13 So they took branches of palm trees and went to meet him. They shouted, `Praise God! God bless the King of Israel! He is coming in the name of the Lord!'
14 Then Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it. He did as the holy writings say,
15 `Do not fear, people of Jerusalem. Your King is coming. He will be riding on a young donkey.'
16 His disciples did not understand this at first. But when God had made Jesus great, then they remembered what the holy writings said about him. They remembered that people had done these things to him.
17 Many people were with Jesus when he called Lazarus out of the grave and raised him from death. They had talked about what he did.
18 That is why many people went out to meet Jesus. They had heard about the big work he did.
19 The Pharisees said to each other, `See, you cannot stop this thing. People everywhere are going after him.'
20 Some of the people who came to worship God at the feast were Greek people.
21 They came to Philip who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, `Sir, we want to see Jesus.'
22 Philip came to Andrew and told him. Then they both went and told Jesus.
23 Jesus said, `The time has come when the Son of Man will be made great.
24 I tell you the truth. If a seed of grain is not put in the ground to die, it will be only a seed. But if it dies, it will bear many seeds.
25 Anyone who tries to keep his life will lose it. Anyone who gives up his life in this world will live for ever in the next world.
26 If anyone wants to do my work, he must go where I go. Then he and I will be together. My Father will honour everyone who works for me.
27 `Now my heart is very sad. Shall I say, "Father, save me from this time of trouble"? No, I have come to this time just so that I might go through it.
28 Father, do what will make your name great.' Then a voice from the sky said, `I have already done that and I will do it again.'
29 Some people were standing near. When they heard the voice, they said, `It is thundering.' Other people said, `An angel talked to him.'
30 Jesus answered them, `This voice did not come for my sake, but it came for your sake.
31 It is time now for the world to be judged. The ruler of this world will be put out.
32 And as for me, if they lift me up from the earth, I will draw all people to me.'
33 He said this to show how he would die.
34 The people answered him, `Our law book tells us that Christ will stay here for ever. Why do you say, "The Son of Man will be raised up from the earth"? Tell us who this Son of Man is.'
35 Then Jesus said to them, `You have light for a short time longer. Walk while you have the light so that you will not need to walk in the dark. The person who walks in the dark cannot see where he is going.
36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may be a people who have the light in you.' When Jesus had said this, he left them. They did not know where he was.
37 Even though they had seen Jesus doing many big works, they did not believe in him.
38 What the prophet Isaiah said came true. He said, `Lord, who has believed what we told them? Who has believed even though they have seen the power of God's hand?'
40 So they could not believe. Isaiah said also, `God has made them blind. Their hearts have no feeling. They cannot see. They do not understand with their heart. They will not turn to God. If they did turn, he would heal them.'
41 Isaiah said this about the Christ when he saw how great he was.
42 Some of the chief rulers believed in Jesus, but they did not tell anyone that they believed in him. They were afraid the Pharisees would put them out of the meeting place.
43 They wanted the praise of men more than the praise of God.
44 Jesus called out, `Anyone who believes in me does not believe just in me, but in the one who sent me.
45 Anyone who sees me sees the one who sent me.
46 I am a light and have come into the world. Anyone who believes in me will not be in the dark.
47 If anyone hears what I say and does not believe it, I do not judge him. I did not come to judge the world. I came to save the world.
48 The one who will not believe in me and will not listen to what I say will be judged anyway. The same things that I have said will judge him on the last day.
49 `I have not said this from my own mind, but my Father who sent me told me what to say. He told me what to tell you.
50 I know that what he told me to say has power to give life for ever. So I say everything my Father has told me to say.'
John 12
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 12
The Anointing at Bethany.(A) 1 [a]Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.(B) 2 They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him.(C) 3 Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus[b] and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.(D) 4 Then Judas the Iscariot, one [of] his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, 5 “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages[c] and given to the poor?” 6 He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions.(E) 7 So Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial.[d] 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”(F)
9 [The] large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came, not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.(G) 10 And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, 11 because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him.(H)
The Entry into Jerusalem.[e] 12 (I)On the next day, when the great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 they took palm branches[f] and went out to meet him, and cried out:
“Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,
[even] the king of Israel.”(J)
14 Jesus found an ass and sat upon it, as is written:
16 His disciples did not understand this at first, but when Jesus had been glorified they remembered that these things were written about him and that they had done this[h] for him.(L) 17 [i]So the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from death continued to testify. 18 This was [also] why the crowd went to meet him, because they heard that he had done this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the whole world[j] has gone after him.”(M)
The Coming of Jesus’ Hour.[k] 20 Now there were some Greeks[l] among those who had come up to worship at the feast.(N) 21 [m]They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.”(O) 22 Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.(P) 23 [n]Jesus answered them,(Q) “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 [o]Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat;(R) but if it dies, it produces much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life[p] loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.(S) 26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.(T)
27 “I am troubled[q] now. Yet what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour.(U) 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.”(V) 29 The crowd there heard it and said it was thunder; but others said, “An angel has spoken to him.”(W) 30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come for my sake but for yours.(X) 31 Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world[r] will be driven out.(Y) 32 And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”(Z) 33 He said this indicating the kind of death he would die. 34 So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains forever.[s] Then how can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?”(AA) 35 Jesus said to them, “The light will be among you only a little while. Walk while you have the light, so that darkness may not overcome you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where he is going.(AB) 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of the light.”(AC)
Unbelief and Belief Among the Jews. After he had said this, Jesus left and hid from them. 37 [t](AD)Although he had performed so many signs in their presence they did not believe in him, 38 [u]in order that the word which Isaiah the prophet spoke might be fulfilled:
“Lord, who has believed our preaching,
to whom has the might of the Lord been revealed?”(AE)
39 For this reason they could not believe, because again Isaiah said:
40 “He blinded their eyes
and hardened their heart,
so that they might not see with their eyes
and understand with their heart and be converted,
and I would heal them.”(AF)
41 Isaiah said this because he saw his glory[v] and spoke about him.(AG) 42 Nevertheless, many, even among the authorities, believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they did not acknowledge it openly in order not to be expelled from the synagogue.(AH) 43 For they preferred human praise to the glory of God.(AI)
Recapitulation. 44 Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me,(AJ) 45 and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.(AK) 46 I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.(AL) 47 And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.(AM) 48 Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day,(AN) 49 because I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak.(AO) 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. So what I say, I say as the Father told me.”
Footnotes
- 12:1–8 This is probably the same scene of anointing found in Mk 14:3–9 (see note there) and Mt 26:6–13. The anointing by a penitent woman in Lk 7:36–38 is different. Details from these various episodes have become interchanged.
- 12:3 The feet of Jesus: so Mk 14:3; but in Mt 26:6, Mary anoints Jesus’ head as a sign of regal, messianic anointing.
- 12:5 Days’ wages: literally, “denarii.” A denarius is a day’s wage in Mt 20:2; see note on Jn 6:7.
- 12:7 Jesus’ response reflects the rabbinical discussion of what was the greatest act of mercy, almsgiving or burying the dead. Those who favored proper burial of the dead thought it an essential condition for sharing in the resurrection.
- 12:12–19 In John, the entry into Jerusalem follows the anointing whereas in the synoptics it precedes. In John, the crowd, not the disciples, are responsible for the triumphal procession.
- 12:13 Palm branches: used to welcome great conquerors; cf. 1 Mc 13:51; 2 Mc 10:7. They may be related to the lûlāb, the twig bundles used at the feast of Tabernacles. Hosanna: see Ps 118:25–26. The Hebrew word means: “(O Lord), grant salvation.” He who comes in the name of the Lord: referred in Ps 118:26 to a pilgrim entering the temple gates, but here a title for Jesus (see notes on Mt 11:3 and Jn 6:14; 11:27). The king of Israel: perhaps from Zep 3:14–15, in connection with the next quotation from Zec 9:9.
- 12:15 Daughter Zion: Jerusalem. Ass’s colt: symbol of peace, as opposed to the war horse.
- 12:16 They had done this: the antecedent of they is ambiguous.
- 12:17–18 There seem to be two different crowds in these verses. There are some good witnesses to the text that have another reading for Jn 12:17: “Then the crowd that was with him began to testify that he had called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead.”
- 12:19 The whole world: the sense is that everyone is following Jesus, but John has an ironic play on world; he alludes to the universality of salvation (Jn 3:17; 4:42).
- 12:20–36 This announcement of glorification by death is an illustration of “the whole world” (Jn 12:19) going after him.
- 12:20 Greeks: not used here in a nationalistic sense. These are probably Gentile proselytes to Judaism; cf. Jn 7:35.
- 12:21–22 Philip…Andrew: the approach is made through disciples who have distinctly Greek names, suggesting that access to Jesus was mediated to the Greek world through his disciples. Philip and Andrew were from Bethsaida (Jn 1:44); Galileans were mostly bilingual. See: here seems to mean “have an interview with.”
- 12:23 Jesus’ response suggests that only after the crucifixion could the gospel encompass both Jew and Gentile.
- 12:24 This verse implies that through his death Jesus will be accessible to all. It remains just a grain of wheat: this saying is found in the synoptic triple and double traditions (Mk 8:35; Mt 16:25; Lk 9:24; Mt 10:39; Lk 17:33). John adds the phrases (Jn 12:25) in this world and for eternal life.
- 12:25 His life: the Greek word psychē refers to a person’s natural life. It does not mean “soul,” for Hebrew anthropology did not postulate body/soul dualism in the way that is familiar to us.
- 12:27 I am troubled: perhaps an allusion to the Gethsemane agony scene of the synoptics.
- 12:31 Ruler of this world: Satan.
- 12:34 There is no passage in the Old Testament that states precisely that the Messiah remains forever. Perhaps the closest is Ps 89:37.
- 12:37–50 These verses, on unbelief of the Jews, provide an epilogue to the Book of Signs.
- 12:38–41 John gives a historical explanation of the disbelief of the Jewish people, not a psychological one. The Old Testament had to be fulfilled; the disbelief that met Isaiah’s message was a foreshadowing of the disbelief that Jesus encountered. In Jn 12:42 and also in Jn 3:20 we see that there is no negation of freedom.
- 12:41 His glory: Isaiah saw the glory of Yahweh enthroned in the heavenly temple, but in John the antecedent of his is Jesus.
John 12
New King James Version
The Anointing at Bethany(A)
12 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, (B)where Lazarus was [a]who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. 2 (C)There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 3 Then (D)Mary took a pound of very costly oil of (E)spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
4 But one of His disciples, (F)Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, 5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for [b]three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and (G)had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.
7 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; [c]she has kept this for the day of My burial. 8 For (H)the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”
The Plot to Kill Lazarus
9 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, (I)whom He had raised from the dead. 10 (J)But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, 11 (K)because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.
The Triumphal Entry(L)
12 (M)The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out:
“Hosanna!
(N)‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
The King of Israel!”
14 (O)Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:
15 “Fear(P) not, daughter of Zion;
Behold, your King is coming,
Sitting on a donkey’s colt.”
16 (Q)His disciples did not understand these things at first; (R)but when Jesus was glorified, (S)then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.
17 Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. 18 (T)For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, (U)“You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!”
The Fruitful Grain of Wheat
20 Now there (V)were certain Greeks among those (W)who came up to worship at the feast. 21 Then they came to Philip, (X)who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”
22 Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.
23 But Jesus answered them, saying, (Y)“The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 24 Most assuredly, I say to you, (Z)unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much [d]grain. 25 (AA)He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, let him (AB)follow Me; and (AC)where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.
Jesus Predicts His Death on the Cross
27 (AD)“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? (AE)But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify Your name.”
(AF)Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”
29 Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”
30 Jesus answered and said, (AG)“This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now (AH)the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, (AI)if I am [e]lifted up from the earth, will draw (AJ)all peoples to Myself.” 33 (AK)This He said, signifying by what death He would die.
34 The people answered Him, (AL)“We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”
35 Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer (AM)the light is with you. (AN)Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; (AO)he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become (AP)sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and (AQ)was hidden from them.
Who Has Believed Our Report?
37 But although He had done so many (AR)signs before them, they did not believe in Him, 38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke:
(AS)“Lord, who has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
39 Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:
40 “He(AT) has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts,
(AU)Lest they should see with their eyes,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.”
41 (AV)These things Isaiah said [f]when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.
Walk in the Light
42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but (AW)because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 (AX)for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
44 Then Jesus cried out and said, (AY)“He who believes in Me, (AZ)believes not in Me (BA)but in Him who sent Me. 45 And (BB)he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. 46 (BC)I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. 47 And if anyone hears My words and does not [g]believe, (BD)I do not judge him; for (BE)I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 (BF)He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—(BG)the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. 49 For (BH)I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, (BI)what I should say and what I should speak. 50 And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I (BJ)speak.”
Footnotes
- John 12:1 NU omits who had been dead
- John 12:5 About one year’s wages for a worker
- John 12:7 NU that she may keep
- John 12:24 Lit. fruit
- John 12:32 Crucified
- John 12:41 NU because
- John 12:47 NU keep them
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